Typewriter attachment



Jul 14, 1936.

J.' O. SHERMAN TYPEWRITER' ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 27, 1952 atented July 14, i936 2,047,232 'lllZPlEWRlTER ATTACHMENT John Q. Sherman, Dayton, Ohio Application February 27, 1932, Serial No. 595,567 eclaims. (or. l9'i--l4l3) This invention relates to manifolding apparatus, and more particularly to a typewriter attachment for facilitating the use of superposed strips of continuous multi-form or series connected stationery.

For increased efficiency and rapidity of operation, it has become quite common practice to employ continuous strips of multiple forms arranged in superposed relation and fed through a writing machine, the written portions of which are detached at predetermined intervals upon transverse division or score lines. Usually such continuous record strips are interleaved with light stripsof one-time transfer or carbon material which, after being once used, is discarded. In lieu of such continuous carbon strips, the use of which is extensive and involves great waste and economic loss, assemblies or packets of shorter.

transfer sheets are sometimes used, which transfer sheets are readjusted relative to the mamfolding or record strips between succeeding writing operations. Such use of relatively short transfer sheets in association with continuous su perposed record strips, is illustrated and described in the application of John Q. Sherman, Serial No. 565,591, filed September 28, 1931 and also in copending application Serial No. 572,624, filed November 2, 1931.

Whatever the relation of and strips may be and the the transfer material method of readjusting --such transfer material and strips, if such ad justment is necessary, between succeeding writing operations, it is desirable that the superposed record strips and interleaved transfer or carbon material be supported and guided beyond the writing position. It is customary to provide the writing machine with a platen roll which is vertically adjustable to enable the writing of capital letters, figures and symbols whenever such are used. Such vertical adjustment of the platen roll of the writing machine changes its relation with the support or guide for the transcribed portion of the record strips and hence a flexible or yielding guide portion is found desirable to insure uniform and smooth transfer of the strips from the platen roll onto the guide or support therebeyond.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a support and guide for the superposed record strips as they pass beyond the writing position which will readily and automatically accommodate itself to changes of position of the platen roll as it is raised and lowered.

A further object of the invention is to simplify the construction, as well as the means and mode of operation of guiding and supporting means for manifolding material, whereby it will not only be .cheapened in construction, but will be more efficient in use, convenient, automatic and uniform in operation, and unlikely to get out of repair or adjustment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive writing machine attachment for supporting the written portions of the record strips, which will automatically accommodate itself to variations in the position of the platen roll and will insure uniform, smooth travel movement of the strips from the roll onto such support.

A further object of the invention is to provide a support over which the written portions of the strips are fed having thereon adjustable guide means for locating the carbon sheets relative to the record strips and the support, and platen roll. 2

A further object of the invention is to provide indicator means by which the operator may readily determine when a predetermined length of record strip material has been advanced to a position wherein the transfer sheets are to be held 2 while the inscribed portions of the record strips are advanced relative thereto.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view, as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, where- 3 in is shown the preferred, but obviously not necessarily the only forms of the embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional form of typewriter with which is associated a traveling paper carrier, and relative to which there is shown mounted the support or guide for the record strips, forming the subject matter hereof. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the platen roll removed from the writing machine, and the strips support or guide table in its operative position relative to such platen roll.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

The present invention is applicable to manifolding apparatus of various forms including typewriters, billing machines, tabulating machines and other forms of recording mechanism. For illustrative purposes, but with no intention to limit the invention or its application, it has been herein shown and will be described as applied to a conventional form of typewriter l, the platen roll 2 of which has been shown as provided with feeding pins 3 for uniformly feeding marginally punched stationery in continuous strip form. Such continuous multi-form stationery has been shown as supplied from a traveling carrier 4, operatively coupled to the typewriter carriage 5 for unison to and fro movement therewith. While such traveling carrier provides a convenient storage space for the supply of record material, it is to be understood that the use of feeding pins 3, marginally punched stationery and the traveling paper supply carrier are not material or essential to the present invention, and have been shown merely to illustrate the preferred application of the support or guide in a commercial assembly.

The record material comprises successions of forms or record sheets which, in the present in-. stance, have been shown marginally punched at 8 and which are interconnected end to end in continuous strip formation as at 6. Such strips being superfolded one upon the other with succeeding forms or record sheets in registry withthose of contiguous strips, the supply packet ll thus formed is located in the traveling carrier 4. It may, however, be otherwise positioned or the strips 6 may be supplied from a supply roll or rolls. The several superfolded strips are transversely scored or perforated at spaced intervals for separation into succeeding sheets or sections.

The transfer or carbon material for use with such continuous interconnected stationery strips comprises relatively short sheets adapted to be shifted to and fro relative to the record strips as is described in the copending application for Letters Patent aforementioned. Extending upwardly and rearwardly from the platen roll 2 and supported upon the paper supply carrier 4, is an upwardly and rearwardly extending guide plate or support l4. This guide plate i4 is suitably supported upon adjustable arms which, as illustrated in Fig. 1, are connected to a rod l6 carried by adjustable arms l'l projecting from the traveling paper supply carrier.

In the present instance the support or guide table 54 is shown provided with gripper means for holding the transfer material while the strips are adjusted relative thereto as is described in the copending application aforementioned. Such gripper means comprises pivoted gripper jaws l9 actuated by a spring 20 into engagement with corresponding gripping surfaces 2| upon the support or plate l4. The pivoted grippers l9 are elevated against the tension of the spring 20 by cam fingers 23 upon-a transverse shaft 24 ex tending beneath the table or support I4 and carrying at one end the finger lever 22 by which the gripper l9 may be retracted.

At its forward and lower end the support or guide plate I4 is provided with a flexible or yielding extension 24 which projects into overlapping relation with the platen roll 2. This guide extension 24 may ride; upon the periphery of the roll 2 or it may be supported in relatively proximate relation to the roll but out of actual con-' tact therewith. The guide extension 24 is hinged or yieldingly connected with the plate l4 whereby, as the typewriter carriage 5 is raised and lowered as is ordinarily necessary for writing capital letters, figures and symbols, the guide extension 24 will be elevated and lowered in unison therewith by contact with the roll 2. Thus whatever the position of the platen roll 2 may be relative to the guide and support plate or table M, the yielding extension 24 will bridge the intermediate space and provide for uniform and smooth transfer of the sheets from the roller to the guiding plate or table. This yielding guide extension 24 has been shown in the drawing provided with slots to clear the feed pins 3. However when used in association with an ordinary friction feed type of writing machine from which the feeding pins 3 are omitted, such clearance slots 26 may also be omitted.

Disposed longitudinally of the supporting plate or table l4 adjacent to the opposite margins thereof, are adjustable flanged guides 25 which are capable of limited adjustment toward and from each other to accommodate carbon transfer sheets of different widths and also to relatively position the sheets upon the guide plate or table l4. Such lateral guides 25 are preferably, though not necessarily, outwardly curved at their forward or lower ends, whereby there will exist a deflecting action in relation with the passing transfer sheets, thus tending to deflect the sheets into the path predetermined by the position of such lateral guides 25.

In order to indicate to the operator when an inscribed portion of the record strips and transfer sheets have been sufficiently advanced to the point wherein the transfer sheets are to be held while the record strips are further advanced for detachment, an adjustable stop or gage member 21 is slidingly secured to the under side of the support or plate l4. Such gage member 21 may be extended to greater or less degree beyond the limit of the plate M to accommodate forms of different length comprising the record strips 5.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in anyof its forms or modifications within the ligitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a writing machine including vertically adjustable feeding means for advancing multiple record strips and interleaved transfer sheets past a writing position, a guide plate for the strips associated with the writing machine at the discharge side of the feeding means, means for supporting the guide plate including vertically adjustable feeding means for advancing multiple record strips and interleaved transfer sheets past a writing position, a guide plate for receiving the strips from the feeding means associated with the writing machine, means for supporting the guide plate independently of the vertically adjustable feedin means, 7 5

2,047,282 and a continuation of said guide plate hinged to the guide plate and resting upon the feeding means, said plate being oscillated in unison with the vertical adjustment of the feeding means to maintain operative relation of the guide plate and feeding means in various positions of vertical adjustment of the latter.

3. The combination with a writing machine including vertically adjustable feeding means for advancing multiple record strips and interleaved transfer sheets past a writing position, a guide plate for receiving the strips from the feeding means associated with the writing machine, means for supporting the guide plate independently of the vertically adjustable feeding means, said plate comprising two relatively adjustable portions, one of which is operatively engaged by and movable vertically with the feeding means independently of the remainder of said guide plate.

4. The combination with a writing machine including vertically adjustable feeding means for porting and guide table for record material passing about the roll extending rearwardly from the platen roll, and a yielding extension carried by the table loosely resting upon the platen roll and vertically movable in unison with the platen roll for guiding the written material intermediate the roll and the table in all positions of vertical adjustment of the platen roll.

6. The combination with a writing machine, 5

including a vertically movable platen roll, of a. supporting and guiding table for receiving record material passing from the roll, extending rearwardly therefrom, and a terminal portion hinged to said table and resting upon the platen roll for swinging motion in unison with the vertical movement of the platen roll for maintaining a suitable guiding surface for the record material in all positions of adjustment of the roll.

7. The combination with a writing machine including a platen roll of a supporting and guide table for record material operated upon, extending rearwardly from the rollin spaced relation therewith relative to which the platen roll is vertically movable, and an auxiliary guide member bridging the space between the roll and table in all positions of adjustment of the roll. v

8. The combination with a writing machine, including a platen roll of a supporting and guide table for the record material operated upon, extending rearwardly from the platen roll, and vertically swinging supporting arms therefor upon which the table is carried for vertical adjustment relative to the platen roll.

9. The combination with a writing machine,

including a platen roll of a supporting and guide table for the record material operated upon, extending rearwardly from the platen roll, and supporting arms therefor comprising vertically swinging interpivoted relatively adjustable sections upon which said table is mounted for vertical adjustment.

- JOHN Q. SHERMAN. 

